15 Luke - The Joy of Found-ness

By Richard

In Luke 15 we have 3 well-known parables of lost-ness. A lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost son. This is the only time that 3 parables on the same subject appear sequentially in the Gospel (so it must be important as repetition was the literary means of emphasis in ancient times). The stories also grow in the level of loss experienced. 1% of a farmer’s livelihood! 10% of a widow’s pension! Finally, a Landowner looses 50% of his wealth and 50% of his sons!

By focusing on the lost side of the parable we might miss something important. In the context the Pharisees are complaining that Jesus is, “Eating meals with sinners and treating them like old friends.” (Paraphrase, Luke 5: 3). Jesus goes on to tell the stories about lost-ness and each ends with an emphasis on celebration and the joy when sinners come back to God. He ends off the 3 parables by reminding the Pharisees of their hard and cold hearts and their lack of joy over repentant sinners.

So perhaps rather than about lost-ness the emphasis Jesus is making is on the joy that comes from “found-ness”.